Degree of pain during labor and anthropometric determinants on birth size and mode of delivery at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.

The study aimed to examine the influence of degree of pain during labor and anthropometric parameters, as well as maternal sociodemographic, on birth characteristics and mode of delivery during labor. The study adopted an observational cross section involving pregnant mothers and their newborns. A total of 360 pregnant mothers, certified as healthy by an obstetrician, were recruited from the antenatal ward between May 1, 2020, and June 1, 2021. Each participant voluntarily signed an informed consent form, which was provided in their preferred local dialect. This study adopted direct standard anthropometric measurements, gynecological protocols and a questionnaire-based approach. Maternal and neonatal anthropometric features, sociodemographic factors, and the mode of delivery were assessed following the guidelines of the Institute of Medicine. Male newborns have higher birth length than their female counterparts. The mode of delivery of male neonates was strongly associated with the maternal degree of pain during labor (χ2 = 5.691; P = .048), and could be predicted using a statistical model (adjusted R2 = 0.154, odds ratio: 0.542). Degree of pain during labor significantly influences the delivery outcomes. Women that gave birth to male neonates experience a nociceptive dimension of pain, primarily due to prolonged labor. Understanding the causes of prolonged pain during labor could assist clinicians in managing deliveries more effectively and prevent complications. The findings could enhance the clinical relevance and decision-making and improve the management of operative deliveries, particularly for male neonates.